Clutch



Dec. 26, 1933., R T, w|sE 1,941,161

CLUTCH Filed Nov. 5, 1930 Patented Dec. 26, 1933 UNITED *SIT-Atv CLUTCHRoyvT. Wiese, Berkeley, Califgdassignor to' Wise Patent and DevelopmentCompany, New York,

N. Y., a corporation' of Delaware Application Novembeffa, 1930. serialNo. 493,649 s claims. r" (ci. 19a- 78) AThis invention relates toA newand useful improvements in clutches susceptible ofgeneral applicationand more particularly to clutches especially adaptable for use inconjunction with change speed transmission gearing in which the gearsare in constant 4mesh Aand the various gear'v generally improvetheconstruction of the clutch' disclosed in my Patent No, 1,770,290,granted July A8, 1930, andj more especially in regard tothe actuatingmeans, the clutch shoe ,construction andthe general arrangementof'partssuch as gear bearings and the general lubrication of the Various parts.j f i Other objects and advantages ofthe invention 'will become apparentduring the vcourse oftheV following description.v v In the accompanyingdrawing forming a part of the description and wherein like numerals areemployed to designate'likeparts:

Figure A1 is a fragmentary view in central' longitudinal section through'a transmission mechanism disclosing thenovel clutchconstructionin 25accordance withmy invention assembled in connection therewith;V VFigure2 is a transverse section through one of the individualclutch'mechanisms taken-'on the line 2-2 of Figure l; f

Figure 3 is a section througha modified form of clutch parts; and i 1Figure 4 is aside elevation of a'modiiied form ofclutch actuator rod.

As is understoodrfrommy formerPat'entNd 1,770,290,1granted vJuly 8,1930, Ithe primary :purpose of the invention thereand here is to providemeans included inthe clutch for automatically compensating for wearoccurring between the parts. thereof in the most economical andpractical manner'and at the same time to provide a clutch constructionwhich can be advantageously employed in a series forselective'engagement of any ofthe clutcheslo'y means of the mostpractical and eiiicient form of clutch actuating rod possessing simpleandv sturdy characteristics, givingit increased life and durabilityunder the most severe'oonditions of use.

Referring now specifically to the drawing, the numeral 10 designates adrive shaft havingv a drive pinion 11 keyed thereto for mesh with adriven gear 12 keyed to a hollow counter or driven shaft`13; Thiscounter shaft is vrotatably mounted in anti-frictionbearings 14 and 15arranged at opposite ends thereof carried by'a suitablelubricantcarrying housing 16,'only portions of which are illustrated. lAssociatedwith this counter shaft' 13' isa series of gears 17 of varying diametersvas shown, adapted for constant mesh with a series of inversely arrangedgears `18 juxtaposed and keyed to a driven shaft 19 mounted inanti-friction 30- bearings 20, as shown. The Yseries of gears 17 areloosely mounted upon the hollow counter shaft 13 iin a manner which willpresently be described. It will be noted that the bores of these gears17 are-of uniform diam- 651; eter. 'Thebore of 'eaclr of these gears hasits wall provided with a V-shaped groove 21 as shown in Figure' 1,whereas the modification of these gears shown at 17 in Figure Slhas agenerally V-shaped groove 21', one wall of which is arranged at'right755i angles to lthe axis of the-gear, whereas the walls` of the groove21 shown Figure 1, are both arranged obliquely to the axisof the gears.

Each of the gears 17 isrotatably mounted upon av pair of spaced bearingcollarsor discs 22'loose- 75'.A ly mounted upon the hollow driven shaft13 and since the gears areall disposed co-axially and side by side withthe side faces of one juxtaposed with respect to the side faces ofadjacent gears, it will be apparent that Veach collar 22 forms a 8b:bearing for theadjacent ends of adjacentgears. Due to thisarrangementand relation of parts, it will be apparent that the gears -17are normally free to rotate relative to the counter shaft 13 and torotate upon the bearing discs` 22 'as bearg5. ings. A bearing collar 23is lmounted upon the shaft 13 adjacent the anti-friction bearing 14 andis equipped with lubricant passages 24 leading from the bearing 14 tothe `bore of the adjacent -gear 17'to promote'thorough circulation ofthe 90H lubricant throughout the parts. Asomewhat simi'larbearing collar25 is provided-at the opposite end of the set of gears'y 17 adjacent thebearing 15 andis equipped `with lubricant passages 26 leading'from'thebearing 15 to the bore of the 9'5 adjacent loose gear 17. f

` In order to provide-for selective clutching of any of the gears 17tothe counter shaft 1 3, a clutch` of novel construction is i'associated with Y the bore of each of these gears and since the conl'ostruction of all of the clutches is identical, a lde scription of -onewillsuflice. Normally free to revolve within the bore of' each vgear isa pair of' segmental resilient clutch lshoes 27 having their outercurved surfaces substantially V-shaped to 165 act against the V-shapedgroove r21 in the associ-1 ated gear 17. FromFigure I2, it will beobserved that a suiiicient running clearance is allowed between tlieseclutch vrshoes 27 and the shaft 13. The exterior faces of these shoesare provided withr lubricant grooves, the edges of which are notrelieved. It will also be noted that the adjacent ends 28 of the clutchshoes are spaced apart and are tapered as at 29 to form wedge-shapedsockets between the adjacent ends thereof at diametrically oppositepoints about the shaft 13. Of course, the number of clutch shoesemployed may be varied lat will, and accordingly, the number illustrated'here is in no wise Ito be considereda limitation.

The hollow counter shaft 13 at diametrically opposite points oppositethe tapered sockets prvided between adjacent clutch shoes, is drilledwith radial openings 30 to slidabgly mgunt radial,- ly movable clutchelements "31.j Theibodiejs of these clutch elements 31 are cylindricalto "slidingly fit the openings 30 and are provided withlenlarged taperedor wedge-shaped heads- 32" to'iit the tapered seats or sockets betweenthe clutch shoes. These enlarged heads equip the`V clutch elements withshoulders, 33 for limiting radial movement of the clutch elementsinwardly of 4the hollow shaft 1 3. Preferably, the active inclined ertapered faces of the elnteh elemente and. ald jacent endsI of the4clutch shoes are inclined to an angle of approximatelytwentyd'egrees'todi-v minish the transmission of the stresses incidenttoV torque in a direction toward the axis -of the shaft 13. From Figure2, it will be evident that the foregoing construction causes theclutches to practically completelyll Athe spaces between the gears andcounter shaft. Radial outward movement of. these ohitoh elements. 31eensee exi pansion of. the segmental clutchshoes 27. to Yes tablishfrictional driving engagement with the gears 17 whereby therrarerotatedby the's'heft 13.- In their expandingy movement., the elntehshoes resilientlybend so that upon retraction or inwardly. radialmovement of. the elnteh elemente, the inherent spring duality of. the'Shoes returns. them to. an nnolntohed position. Y

Longitudinal displaeement of the shaft 1,3 is prevented by thrust nnte.3,4 and 35 'eerewedfte opposite ends of the. Shaft.- Snell. Inoilementis also. prevented by the` shouldered portions of. the shaft. 13engaging the anti-frieton bearing radea- Tne intennediateA portion ofthe` tubular. Shaft 13 beneath the intermediate bearing discs 22 isequipped with T-.ehaped lubricant, duets 36 en: abline lubricant tofreely eirenlate inside of. the

" tubular shaft 13 for lubrication of parts disposed therein.

The friction clutches of the Set of.y gears 1,7 are selectively engagedand disengaged by 'aI clutch actuator rod 37 mounted within the hollowshaft 13 and movable longitudinally in the axis thereof. This clutchactuator rod is moved axially back or forth within the tubular shaft 13by any suitable means and is provided with enlarged portions 38 atopposite ends to` have sliding fit within the bore of the shaft 13` asclearly shown.

The forward end offthis clutch rod, rearwardly of the forward enlargedhead 38, has a diameter considerably less than thatr of. thefbore of.the shaft 13 and at diametrieally opnoeitenointe is equipped with alongitudinally extending guide .e the shaft 13. The reduced diameter of.the forlward end of the elutclfi actuating rohd'is as to Permit. theelnteh elemente, 3,1 reaehnetetracted positions to assure theirrespectiye clutch f :Shoes assuming disengaged 4n0511219.11.s

tdprovide a gap or slot having both ends closed as'clearly shown inFigure l. Each of these bars 4 3 is provided with an enlargement 44 orcam for 4eng',agement with any selected pair of clutch elements" 3l"f ormoving them radially outward to causeexpans'i'on of the shoes 27. Theseenlargements 44 may be hardened in any suitable manner or equipped withstellite caps to increase their wearresisting properties.

, From the foregoing, it will be apparent that when'the'clutch actuatorrod 3'?l is mofved to cause the cam portions 44 of the bars 43 to engageany selectedpair of'clutchelements 3l, that'the latt'er'arefyieldinglymoved radially outward to cause expansion of its'respective pair ofclutch shoes 27.', causingthe'm to frictionally and yieldingly engage`the bore of the associated gear andY establis'h'a drivingconnection'betweeln the sameahd theY shaftY 13. The bars`43 beingvinherently re- 105 siliently yieldable, causes'the clutch to be heldyieldinglyf engaged to 'impart the requisite flex'- ibility tothe clutchas well'as to compensate for. any wear occurringbetween the clutch shoesand gearfthe clutch shoes andV incline'dfaces of the 119 clutchelements, or between the i'nnerj arcuate j" ends of. thfefy clutchelements and the cams`44., These'bars'43 in Aeffect span the gapsprovided in the clutch actuating rod and being normal'- ly spaced fromthe bottom of these gaps or re- 1,15 cesses 41 are free to yieldoutwardlyfto compensate for wear. These bars 43 may be secured in theirseats 42 by Ya snug fit dove-tailing or otherwise.. i

In the 'modification of `the clutch actuating V12,() rod 37"shown inFigure 4, this rod is made" from inherently resilient material and isprovided with spaced enlargements '45 at'opposite ends to slidingly iitwithin the bore of the shaft 13. The intermediate portion of the rodbetween these en- 12.15 largements is provided with an elongated lonigitudinally extending opening or slot 46, both ends'of "which areclosed, thus lpermitting thev bounding, portions 47 of the rod toresiliently yield.A YT his rod at diametrically opposite sides 13 and atthe medial portions of the slot 46 is equipped withenlargements or cams48 adapted'to actuate the clutch elements 31 hereinbefore described.v Inthis modification, this cam portion of the rod must be constructed fromresilient material whereas the clutch vactuating rod 37 of theembodiment shown in Figure 1 can be constructed from any suitablematerial because of the bars43 possessing the requisite resilience. Y

It is t'o'rbe'u'n'der'stood that varousvchangesin the construction andarrangement of parts may beresorted to'w'ithout departing from the scopeof the appended claims.

I claim:UV i

1. A clutch comprising inner and outer relatively rotatable members,means operatively associatedwith said members for establishing a drivingconnection therebetween, Aand a clutch operatingrod having an elongatedclosed straight slot forfforming opposed yieldable externalpor- 15()tions, said portions having enlargements thereon arranged to engage andto operate said means.

2. A clutch comprising inner and outer rela-A tively rotatable members,means operatively ,associated with said members for establishing adriving connection therebetween, a clutch operating rod having anelongated straight closed slot ad- `iacent the end thereof to formexternally disposed resilient portions, said portions having an enlargedcam thereon arranged to operate said means for maintaining the clutchengaged.

3. A clutch comprising a hollow shaft, a member arranged thereon torevolve concentric therewith, clutch shoes disposed within the memberaround said shaft, the spaces between said shoes forming socketsconverging outwardly, clutch elements projecting radially from the shaftand having tapered ends tting the sockets, said elements being movableradially of the shaft and adapted upon outward movement to moves theshoes into driving engagement with the member, and a clutch actuatingrod having an elongated closed opening forming opposed yieldableportions, said yieldable portions having an enlarged cam thereonarranged to selectively engage the clutch elements for moving the shoesinto drivingengagement with said e member.

4. A clutch comprising a hollow shaft, a member arranged thereon torevolve concentric therewith, clutch shoes disposed within the membervaround said shaft, the spaces between said shoes forming socketsconverging outwardly, clutch elements projecting radially from the shaftand having tapered ends tting the sockets, said elements being movableradially of the shaft and adapted uponoutward movement to move the shoesinto driving engagement with the member, and a clutch actuating rodhaving an elongated closed opening forming opposed yieldable portions,said yieldable portions having an enlarged cam thereon arranged toselectively engage the clutch elements for moving the shoes into drivingengagement with said member, said clutch elements when not engaged bysaid cam being free from engagement with the actuating rod.

5. A clutch actuating rod having an elongated straight closed openingforming opposed yieldable portions, said yieldable portions havingenlargements thereon. y

6. As an article of manufacture, a clutch actuating rnember having anenlarged cam adjacent one end thereof and a longitudinal straight closedslot beneath said cam for rendering the latter yieldable. I

' ROY T. WISE.

